University of Alabama Athletics Director Mal Moore steps down

Moore cites recent health problems; will become special assistant to UA President Judy Bonner

Mal Moore has stepped down as athletics director at the University of Alabama.

Robert Sutton | The Tuscaloosa News

By Tommy DeasExecutive Sports Editor

Published: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 3:43 a.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Mal Moore, whose legacy at the University of Alabama spans half a century and who is connected to many of the all-time great figures in Crimson Tide football history, has decided to step down as athletics director.

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UA announced Moore's decision Wednesday, saying that he will become a special assistant to UA President Judy Bonner.

UA officials said they will work “as quickly as possible” to find a replacement for Moore, who has overseen the Crimson Tide athletics program for nearly 14 years.

Moore, 73, played football at Alabama under the late Paul. W. “Bear” Bryant, and later served as a longtime assistant coach under Bryant. He become UA's director of athletics in November 1999.

He has been hospitalized since March 11 with a pulmonary condition.

Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, speaking to reporters after a Wednesday spring practice session, had high praise for Moore, who hired him away from the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 2007.

“Mal has really become a good friend and somebody that I have a tremendous amount of respect for,” Saban said. “I'm happy for him. I'll be most happy for him if he can get healthy and be around here with us. But I'm gonna miss him.”

Moore was originally admitted to Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, but was later transported to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Last Friday, UA sent out a news release that said Moore was “resting comfortably” and undergoing tests at the North Carolina hospital, but the school has not released any information on his condition since.

“As many of you may know, due to factors related to my health, I am at a point that I can no longer fulfill my duties as athletics director in the true championship manner the position requires,” Moore said in a statement released by UA. “While I have to focus on my health issue, I look forward to maintaining an ongoing working relationship with this great university as special assistant to Dr. Bonner. I know I can count on each of you to continue your unequaled support for me and the University of Alabama.

“I cannot adequately express what the university means to me. It has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and I feel honored to have served the Crimson Tide as a player, coach and administrator. I am so appreciative of the university administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and fans who have made my tenure as director so very meaningful, memorable and special.”

Saban, who has won three national titles at UA, said that Moore's support has been a key element in his program's winning ways.

“He certainly deserves a tremendous amount of credit for any

success that we have had because of the way that he sets the table and

has served us so well,” Saban said. “I think most things that you would stand here and look around here and see, he's had some hand in making all the athletic facilities what they are ... first class in so many ways. More than that, he's a class gentleman, probably as fine as you'll ever meet, and he's certainly been a good friend, and his

support has certainly been appreciated.”

In all, Moore has earned 10 football national championship rings as a player, coach and administrator.

“Mal Moore is Crimson Tide sports,” Bonner said in a release. “During his tenure as athletics director, our student athletes have experienced unprecedented success in every aspect of their careers at UA, on the field of play and in the classroom. His contributions to UA athletics on every level are unsurpassed. And, while he will no longer be in charge of day-to-day operations, I am so pleased that we will continue to be able to rely on his wisdom and expertise going forward.”

Saban said he is confident that UA's administration will pick a worthy successor to Moore.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Mal Moore, whose legacy at the University of Alabama spans half a century and who is connected to many of the all-time great figures in Crimson Tide football history, has decided to step down as athletics director.</p><p>UA announced Moore's decision Wednesday, saying that he will become a special assistant to UA President Judy Bonner.</p><p>UA officials said they will work “as quickly as possible” to find a replacement for Moore, who has overseen the Crimson Tide athletics program for nearly 14 years.</p><p>Moore, 73, played football at Alabama under the late Paul. W. “Bear” Bryant, and later served as a longtime assistant coach under Bryant. He become UA's director of athletics in November 1999. </p><p>He has been hospitalized since March 11 with a pulmonary condition.</p><p>Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, speaking to reporters after a Wednesday spring practice session, had high praise for Moore, who hired him away from the NFL's Miami Dolphins in 2007.</p><p>“Mal has really become a good friend and somebody that I have a tremendous amount of respect for,” Saban said. “I'm happy for him. I'll be most happy for him if he can get healthy and be around here with us. But I'm gonna miss him.” </p><p>Moore was originally admitted to Brookwood Hospital in Birmingham, but was later transported to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Last Friday, UA sent out a news release that said Moore was “resting comfortably” and undergoing tests at the North Carolina hospital, but the school has not released any information on his condition since.</p><p>“As many of you may know, due to factors related to my health, I am at a point that I can no longer fulfill my duties as athletics director in the true championship manner the position requires,” Moore said in a statement released by UA. “While I have to focus on my health issue, I look forward to maintaining an ongoing working relationship with this great university as special assistant to Dr. Bonner. I know I can count on each of you to continue your unequaled support for me and the University of Alabama.</p><p>“I cannot adequately express what the university means to me. It has been a part of my life for more than 50 years, and I feel honored to have served the Crimson Tide as a player, coach and administrator. I am so appreciative of the university administration, coaches, staff, student-athletes and fans who have made my tenure as director so very meaningful, memorable and special.”</p><p>Saban, who has won three national titles at UA, said that Moore's support has been a key element in his program's winning ways.</p><p>“He certainly deserves a tremendous amount of credit for any</p><p>success that we have had because of the way that he sets the table and</p><p>has served us so well,” Saban said. “I think most things that you would stand here and look around here and see, he's had some hand in making all the athletic facilities what they are ... first class in so many ways. More than that, he's a class gentleman, probably as fine as you'll ever meet, and he's certainly been a good friend, and his</p><p>support has certainly been appreciated.”</p><p>In all, Moore has earned 10 football national championship rings as a player, coach and administrator. </p><p>“Mal Moore is Crimson Tide sports,” Bonner said in a release. “During his tenure as athletics director, our student athletes have experienced unprecedented success in every aspect of their careers at UA, on the field of play and in the classroom. His contributions to UA athletics on every level are unsurpassed. And, while he will no longer be in charge of day-to-day operations, I am so pleased that we will continue to be able to rely on his wisdom and expertise going forward.”</p><p>Saban said he is confident that UA's administration will pick a worthy successor to Moore. </p><p>“I know you're going to ask who's going to be the next athletic</p><p>director, and I'm going to tell you that's not my decision,” Saban told reporters after practice Wednesday.</p><p>“We have really, really good people here, chancellors, presidents, other people in the athletic department, people on the board, who I have every</p><p>faith, trust and confidence they will make an outstanding decision as far</p><p>what's best for the University of Alabama,” he said. </p><p>“My part of it will be do</p><p>everything I can to make it work with whomever that individual is.”</p><p>Sports Writer Chase Goodbread contributed to this report.</p>